Impatiens plant named ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ that is characterized by a large quantity of flowers, flowers that have a large size and red-purple flowers with a dark central band. In combination, these traits set ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Impatiens  known to the inventor.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri.

Variety denomination: ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’.

The new cultivar is the product of a breeding program conducted by theinventor in a cultivated area of De Lier, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to develop new Impatiens cultivars withinteresting and unique flower and foliage colors.

‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ is a hybrid that originated from the inducedhybridization of the female or seed parent Impatiens ‘Tamar Candy Cane’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,344) and the male or pollen parent Impatiens‘Alexis’ (not patented). The cultivar ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ wasselected by the inventor in 2000 as a single plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in a controlled environment of De Lier, TheNetherlands.

Asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings of the new cultivar ‘TamarPurple Bicolor’ were taken in 2000 in De Lier, The Netherlands by theinventor. Since that time, under careful observation, the uniquecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newImpatiens cultivar ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ as a new and distinct cultivar apartfrom all other existing varieties of Impatiens known to the inventor.

-   -   1. Impatiens ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ exhibits red-purple flowers        with a dark central band.    -   2. Impatiens ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ exhibits large flowers.    -   3. Impatiens ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ exhibits a large quantity of        flowers per plant.

The new cultivar ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ is distinguishable from thefemale parent Impatiens ‘Tamar Candy Cane’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ has larger flowers than ‘Tamar Candy        Cane’.    -   2. ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ flowers later than ‘Tamar Candy Cane’.    -   3. ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ has darker red-purple flowers with a        dark central band.

The new cultivar ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ is distinguishable from the maleparent Impatiens ‘Alexis’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ has more flowers than ‘Alexis’.    -   2. ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ flowers earlier than ‘Alexis’.    -   3. ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ has red-purple flowers with a dark        central band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofImpatiens ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’. The plant in the photograph shows anoverall view of a 10 week old plant.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Impatiens cultivarnamed ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’. Data was collected in De Lier, TheNetherlands from 10 week glass greenhouse grown plants in 12 cm diametercontainers. The time of year was June and the temperature was kept at20° Centigrade during the day and night. The light level was naturaloutdoor light and there were no photoperiodic treatments or growthretardants used. Color determinations are in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, except where generalcolor terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growingrequirements are similar to the species. ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ has notbeen tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences maybe observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’.-   Use: Ornamental.-   Parentage: ‘Tamar Purple Bicolor’ is a hybrid plant that resulted    from the induced hybridization of the following parent plants:    -   -   Female parent.—Impatiens ‘Tamar Candy Cane’.        -   Male parent.—Impatiens ‘Alexis’.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: Approximately 7 cm. per month.-   Growth habit: Broad Upright.-   Plant shape: Rounded.-   Suitable container size: 12 cm container.-   Height: 26 cm. in height.-   Width: 39 cm. in width.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 10.-   Propagation: Terminal cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 5-8 days to produce roots on    an initial cutting.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner: Approximately 14-21 days.-   Crop time: From a rooted cutting, approximately 9 weeks are required    to produce a finished flowering plant.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Basal branching and lateral branches.        -   Average number of lateral branches.—6.        -   Pinching.—Yes.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—1 cm. in diameter.        -   Lateral branch length.—19 cm. in length.        -   Lateral branch strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Stem color.—184 A.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Internode length.—6.2 cm. between nodes.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Surface.—Glabrous, slightly glossy.-   Foliage:    -   -   Texture.—Both sides smooth and glossy.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Whorled, 5 per whorl.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—20.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf length.—12 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—4.2 cm. in width.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—186C.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—147A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—148B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—139A.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—187B.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—187C.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—2.0 cm. in length and 4.0 mm. in width.        -   Petiole color upper side.—183C.        -   Petiole color lower side.—187B.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Solitary, axillary flowers.        -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary.        -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Quantity of flower per lateral stem.—Approximately 20.        -   Quantity of flowers buds per lateral stem.—Approximately 20.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 240.        -   Flowering season.—Late spring to autumn.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Approximately 10% of the flowers are            opened at once.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower bud length.—1.2 cm. in length.        -   Flower bud diameter.—7 mm. in diameter.        -   Flower bud shape.—Ovate.        -   Bud color.—187B.        -   Rate of bud opening.—5 days.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower shape.—Irregular, flowers somewhat cupped and rounded            rectangular in shape.        -   Flower dimensions.-5.4 cm. in diameter and 2 cm. in height.        -   Flower longevity.—Lasts approximately 10 days on plant.        -   Petal appearance.—Dull.        -   Petal texture.—Glabrous.        -   Petal arrangement.—Irregular.        -   Number of petals.—Five in number.        -   Petals fused or unfused.—Unfused.        -   Petal shape.—Banner petal: Reniform, lateral petals:            Obcordate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal apex.—Banner petal: Acute, lateral petal: emarginate.        -   Petal dimensions.—Banner petal: 2.4 cm. In length, 3.5 cm.            in width, lateral petal: 2.6 cm. in length and 3.4 cm. in            width.        -   Banner petal color when opening (upper side).—Red-purple            57A, lighter at margins 65B.        -   Lateral petal color when opening (upper side).—Red-purple            65B, with a dark, central band 57A.        -   Banner petal color when opening (under side).—Gray-purple            187B, lighter at margins 58B.        -   Lateral petal color when opening (under side).—Red-purple            57C, with a dark, central band of 57A.        -   Banner petal color fully open (upper side).—Red-purple 57A,            lighter at margins 65B.        -   Lateral petal color fully open (upper side).—Red-purple 65D,            with a dark, central band 57A.        -   Banner petal color fully open (under side).—Red-purple 57B,            darker in the center 185A.        -   Lateral petal color fully open (under side).—Red-purple 57C.        -   Petaloids.—Absent.-   Self-cleaning or persistent: Self-cleaning.-   Spur length: About 4.5 cm.-   Spur texture: Smooth.-   Spur color: 62D.-   Sepals:    -   -   Sepal arrangement.—One spurred sepal located between two            side sepals.        -   Sepal color immature (upper side).—185B.        -   Sepal color immature (under side).—187B.        -   Sepal color mature (upper side).—Spurred sepal 62D, side            sepals 148D.        -   Sepal color mature (under side).—Spurred sepal 62D with            darker central band 63A, side sepals 148D.        -   Sepal surface.—Dull and pubescent.        -   Number of sepals.—Three.        -   Sepal shape.—Ovate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal base.—Cuneate.        -   Sepal dimensions.—Side sepals 1.2 cm. in length and 7 mm. in            width, spurred sepal 1.4 cm in length and 1.1 cm in width.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Pedicel dimensions.—5.1 cm. in length and 1.5 mm. in            diameter.        -   Pedicel angle.—45°.        -   Pedicel color.—144A.        -   Pedical strength.—Moderate.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Anther shape.—Introrse and fused into a cap over the ovary.        -   Anther dimensions.—2 mm. In length and 2 mm. in width.        -   Anther color: 182D.        -   Amount of pollen.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—158D.        -   Pistil number.—1 in number.        -   Pistil dimensions.—1 mm. in length.        -   Stigma shape.—Capitate.        -   Stigma color.—187B.        -   Style.—Not visible.        -   Ovary color.—143A.-   Seed: Seed production has not been observed.-   Disease resistance: Plants of the new impatiens have not been    observed for disease resistance.

1. A new and distinct variety of Impatiens plant named ‘Tamar PurpleBicolor’ as described and illustrated.